Roaring 40s managing director Mark Kelleher told EnvironmentalManagementNews.net that peak wind industry body Auswind had held positive meetings with Environment Minister Ian Campbell and Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane on Wednesday, and it was clear they understood the industry’s concerns about the imminent closure of the renewable energy sector in Australia as a result of MRET being fully subscribed.
“No commitments were given but there was an invitation to us to propose some ideas into policy,” Kelleher told EMN.
“We felt that this was a good opportunity in view of the prime minister’s statements this week that some fundamentals had changed since the government’s Energy White Paper was release some time ago.
“To us this provides some encouragement that the Government may be prepared to look at the renewable energy policy again.”
However, Kelleher said there was no discussion of a rescue package for Roaring 40s’ Musselroe Wind Farm project in Tasmania nor had a new buyer emerged for the project, despite comments to that effect yesterday by a company spokesman.
If the Government decides to bring in new policy support measures for renewables then projects such as Musselroe would be ready to go when the buyers emerge, Kelleher said.
In the meantime, he said Musselroe had all of its approvals and was well placed to go ahead as one of the last projects that can fit in within the existing MRET target.
“We are doing all we can to enable this to proceed, including continuing to talk with national electricity retailers,” Kelleher said.
“There is some interest in Musselroe so we are continuing to progress discussions.”
Despite a few lights on the horizon, such as continuing talks with Tasmania’s energy minister and the development of a state-based renewable energy target by the Victorian Government, Kelleher said the outlook remained “very poor” for the Australian renewable energy industry.
Over the past year, Roaring 40s has moved its major growth focus to overseas markets, particularly in China, and more recently has moved into India, as well as working on projects in New Zealand.
Kelleher said he was pleased to hear Campbell’s announcement recently that he would head a major renewable energy delegation to China in October.
“We are looking forward to participating in that delegation, particularly as our first wind farm in China [a joint venture with China Datang Corporation] is expected to be opened in October,” he said.
